remember this threaduring the debt ceiling debate back in the summer of 2011? i cannot guarantee that those checks go out on august 3rd if we have not resolve this issue because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it. this is not just a matter of social security checks, veterans' check folks on disability and their checks. about 70 million checks that go out. lou: more recently in the linda congressional session in the fiscal. >> debate, president obama issued his threat. >> what has been holding us back is the dysfunction here in washington. and if people start seeing that on january 1st this problem still has not been solved. if they save that people's taxes have gone up, which means consumer spending is going to be depressed, then obviously that will have an adverse reaction on the markets. lou: and, of course, that is exactly what has transpired as we now approach the onset of sequestered. took a long time, but president obama today finally reach out to the republican leaders to talk sequester, talking by phone with the speaker and senate